Casting apparatus



7 W. S. SL JTTON CAST ING APPARATUS Filed March 5. 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 )4 TTORA/EYS Get. 21 1924. 1,512,721

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W. S. SUTTON CAS '1 I NG APPARATUS Filed March 5.

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w. s. SUTTON CASTING APPARATUS Filed March 5. 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Our. 21 1924. 1,512,721

W. S. SUTTON CASTING APPARATUS Filed March 3. 1921 9 Sheets-$heet 9 WIT NE88E8 flALZ ck/MM l/VI/E/VTUH WS. SUTTON Fatented fiat. 21, 1924.

A asiatzi rarest entree.

Eran stares WILLIAM S. SUTTON, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

oasrrne APPARATUS.

Application filed March 8, 1921.

new and Improved Casting Apparatus, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in metal working machinery, and it pertains more particularly to a mechanical means for carrying out the several steps of a casting operation.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a machine of this character by means of which the several operations attendant the positioning and filling of a fiaskwith sand may be carried out.'

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanical means for placing the cores within the flasks when cores are used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical means for placing the flasks one upon the other in order that the complete mold may be presented to the pourin mechanism.

Anot ier object of the invention is to provide a new and novel means for eiiecting a packing of the sand within the flask without necessitating the use of tampers.

A further object of the invention is to position the several parts of a machine of this character so that the mechanisms for carrying out the several operations are placed in such relation to one another that the complete operation may be carried out in proper sequence without interruption or delay.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for transferring the flasks from the sand-packin position to a position where the cores may be placed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for automatically withdraw ing the pattern from the flask during the transfer 0 eration.

It is a urther object of the invention to carry out the above mentioned steps in such a manner as to eliminate all heavy manual labor.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a machine in which thenecessity of skilled labor is obviated.

With the above and other objects in view,

* section, showing fierial N0. $29,405.

reference is had to the accompanying draw-.

ings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire plant;

Fig. 2'is a detail sectional view of a portion of the plant and illustrating in detail the manner of packing t e sand in the molds;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the mold-delivering and transfer mechanism showing the mold closed and in the start ng position of transferring to the mechanism adapted to carry out the subsequent operations, said sectional view being taken on the line 44 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken at an les to Fig. 3;

ig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner in which the shock absorbing mechanism right operates to retard the mold-transferring mechanism, said sectional on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

.Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the mold-supporting and transferring mechanism at the time the pattern is withdrawn from the mold and with the several parts in th; opposite position to that shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views partly in the support of the mold in the filling operation, together with the strik- 111 oil and bottom-plate-placing operations;

ig. 9 is a detail view in elevation of the core-placing mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view of the core-placing mechanism and taken on the line 101O of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the coreplacing mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a detail view in elevation of the mold-closing mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a detail view partly in section of the means for filling the mold with molten metal;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the moldfilling mechanism and taken at right angles to Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawin s and more particularly to Fig. 1, in w ich is shown a schematic view of the entire plant, the reference character A designates a storage bin or the like for containing sand with which the molds are filled. In this figure the refer- View being taken means b ence character B designates the mechanical which the molds are filled with sand, an O designates conveyers which serve to deliver the. sand from the bin A to the mechanical filling and ackin device B. The molds are designated by t e reference character 20, and said molds are each suported upon a suitable transfer mechanism 51 upon opposite sides of which are mounted platforms The transfer mechanism 21 is adapted after the molds have been filled, to transfer one of the mold sections to a core-placing mechanism E, the other half of the mol being transferred to a mold-closing mechanism F, it being understood that the section of the mold which receives the core travels upon a track H, the other or closing section of the mold traveling on the track J. The track H is continued to a. point beyond the closing mechanism to the point K, at which point the mold is broken up and the cast article delivered therefrom.

The reference character L designates the metal-pouring mechanism and said metalpouring mechanism is interposed in the lant between the mold-closing mechanism E and the end of the track The invention. contemplates a lant' in which the molds are built u meclihnically and mechanically transferreu to the several mechanisms, i. e., pattern-drawing and trans fer mechanism, core-placing mexxhanism, mold-closing mechanism, metal-pouring mechanism, and mold-breaking-up and article-deliverin" mechanism.

While in the present illustration of the invention, a controlling mechanism by means of which these several mechanisms may be automatically operated, has not been shown, it is to be here stated that the invention contemplates the use of such a mechanism which, however, is in itself a separate and distinct invention from the one illustrated herein.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the sand-delivering and packing mechanism is shown in Vertical section, and insaid View the sand is delivered from the bin A by the conveyer C to a smaller conveyer C. The conveyer C is of the endless bucket type, and the same discharges the material carried in the buckets C to the buckets G of the conveyer C. It is to be understood that the conveyors C and C may be driven in any suitable manner. The conveyer C delivers the sand which it receives from the conveyor G into the hopper 25, and from said hopper 25 the same is delivered to the flared end 26 of an injector blower 27. To provide for delivering the sand from the hopper 25 to the in'ector blower 27 a feedingroller 28 is employed, and said feeding roller 28 is driven by means of a chain 29 and a motor 30, said motor being preferably of the electric type and controlled by means of a pull cord or the like 31. This pull cord 31 actuates the I The injector blower 27 leads to a chamber 35 and surrounding the openin of the injector blower 27 and within the c amber 35 is a flared shield 36 of conical form. Extending downwardl in alinement with the injector blower 27, is a tubular member 37 formed of suitable wire mesh and the lower end 38 thereof is spaced with relation to the funnelshaped member 39 of the bottom of the chamber 35. Surrounding the tubular member 37 and the cone shaped member 36 and contained within the chamber 35, is a circular wall 36' secured around angle irons 37 in the top and bottom of the chamber 35.

Leading from the funnel-shaped portion 39 of the bottom of the chamber 35, is a sand conveyer pipe 40, and slidably mounted on the lower end thereof is a section 41, which section 41 is provided with a handle 42, by means of which it is ad'ustable longitudinally of the section 40. he section 41 is counterbalanced by means of weights 43, the cables 44 of which ass over pulleys 45 and are attached to rigid arms 46 carried by the section 411% indicated by the reference character 47. Mounted upon the lower end of the section 41 is a flexible section 48, and by means of this flexible section 48, it is apparent that the discharge end of the sandpacking tube may be moved relative to the mold in order that the same may be uniformly filled. The injector blower 27 is provided with air under pressure by means of a pump 50, and said pump 50 is driven by means of a belt 51 from a suitable motor 52. Leading from the pump 50 to the injector blower 27 i a pipe 53, and said pipe 53 has its free end bent downwardly as at 54, and extended into the injector blower 27 to a point below the lower end of the upper flared end 26 thereof.

Intermediate the ends of the pipe 53, is a chamber 55, and leading from said chamber is a pipe 56, upon the lower end of which is mounted a pressure gage 57, and said pressure gage 57 serves to give a reading of the pressure present in the pipe 53 and the injector blower 27 This pipe 56 is open to the chamber 55 by means ofa valve 58 operated by means of a cable 59 passing over the pulleys 60 and provided on its lower end with a hand pull 61.

The pump 50 is connected with the chamber 35 by means of a pipe 62 in such a manner that as the air escapes through the tubular mesh member 37 beneath the inverted conical member 36 and through the screen member 36, the same is completely separated from the sand.

The halves of the molds 20 are supported upon a suitable transfer mechanism 21 heretofore mentioned, and to be hereinafter more specifically referred to, and said transfer mechanism supports the mold sections directly beneath the sand-placin or filling mechanism above described. T e sand-filling mechanism operates in the following The sand being delivered to the hoppers 25 by means of the conve ors C and C, the feed roller 28 serves to eliver the sand to the flared upper end 26 of the injector blower 27. -The motor 52 is now started and ,the pump 50 delivers air under pressure to the pipes 53 and 54. This air under 1pressure is projected downwardly through t e ln ector lower 27 and said air serves to give impetus to the .sand to force the same downwardly through the sections 40, 41 and 48 of the tubular conveyer, as indicated by the arrows X in Fig. 2 of the drawings, to the mold 20. The impetus given to the sand by means of the air blast being sufficient to cause' the same to pack it within the molds 20, at the time that the sand is delivered-to the funnelshaped bottom wall 39 of the chamber 35,

the air is exhausted from the members 37 and 36 and returned to the suction side of the pump 50, the sand freed from air passing downwardl through the tubular conveyer to the mol s 20 as heretofore stated.

As shown in Fig. 1, there are two half sections of molds being filled at one operation, and likewise there are two injector blowers, there being one for each half section of the mold to be filled.

While in the present instance two molds and two sand-delivering devices have been illustrated, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to two since it may be used with equal facility with any number of molds and sand-delivering devices.

The pattern-withdrawing and mold-transfer mechanism is positioned, as shown in Fig. 1, beneath the sand-feeding and packing mechanism heretofore described and in the present illustration the device comprises two swinging members 100 and 101. These swinging members are revolubly mounted upon a shaft 102, and said shaft is rigidly secured in trunnions 103, which latter are supported upon foundation members 104. Each of the swinging members 100 and 101 comprises two parallel arms, the corresponding ends 105 of which are counterbalanced or weighted as at 106. As indicated by the reference character 107, the members 100 and 101 are rigidly secured together so as to operate in unison and between the said members 100 and 101 there is a ratchet wheel 108 rigidly fixed to said members in such a manner that application of power to the gear 108 will cause a rotation of the members 100 and 101 about the shaft 102. Each of the members 100 and 101 is rovided at that end opposite to the counter alanced end with a base or platform 109, said platforms being rigidly secured to their respective members 100 and 101. Each of the bases or platforms 109 is provided with a central passage 110, and

rojecting from each end of each of the ase members 109 are two standards 111. These standards pass through plates 112 and carried by each of said plates 112 is a pattern 113. Projecting from the rear face of each of the plates 112 and rigidly secured thereto as at 114, is an operatin bar 115, said operating bar passing throug an opening 110 in the base or platform 109 heretofore mentioned. The other end of this arm 115 is hollowed out as'at 116, and is adapted to receive a cam 117 secured to the shaft 102.

-Rigidly connecting the members 100 and 101 and passing through extensions 105 is a transversely extending shaft 115 and said shaft 115 passes between s aced arms 116' projecting from the hollowe out portion 116 of each of the operating bars 115, on the opposite side to said operating bars 115. This transversely extending shaft 115 serves as a guide for the operatin bars 115 in their movement when actuate by their respective cams 117.

Secured to the outer end of each pair of arms 111, is a plate 112, and said plateis provided with" an opening of such a shape as to permit of the free passage therethrough of the pattern 113.

The ratchet wheel 108 heretofore mentioned is disposed between the two moldtransferring mechanisms and mounted on the shaft 102 in such a manner as to pivot 'thereabout, is a lever 118. Pivotally secured to the lever 118, as

at 119, is a dog or pawl 120, and pivotally secured as at 121, is a piston rod 122. The piston rod 122 has a piston head, not shown, which latter operates in a cylinder-.123 pivotally supported as at 124:, said ivotal support being secured to one of the ases or foundations 104. This cylinder 123 is preferabl a hydraulic cylinder but may be operated by any deslred means, such as air or steam, and said air or steam is supplied to opposite ends of the cylinder by means of pipes 125 and 126, the flow of said fluid being controlled by means of a valve 127, which latter is operated by means of a lever 128 and a pull rod 129 extending to any desired point about the machine most convenient for the operator.

'The reference character 130 designates a shock-absorbing cylinder and said shock-absorbing cylinder is pivotally mounted as at 131 to an arm 132 projecting from the frame 103. This cylinder 130 rests upon a base or enlarged portion 133, and the cylinder is supplied with suitable power-actuating fluid by means of a pipe 13 controlled by a valve 135. The reference character 136 designates a piston rod projecting from the cylinder and said piston rod is provided with a head 137. This head 137 has a curved seat 138 adapted to engage a short transverse shaft 139, which shaft is carried by the arms 100 and 105 of the mold-supporting member to the left, as shown in Fig. 4.

By this construction it Wlll be seen that as the swinging members travel around they are brought to a stop by means of the transverse shaft 139 engaging the curved seat 138 of the head 137, the shock being taken up by the movement of the p1ston of the piston rod 136 in the cylinder 130 against the action of the cushioning fluid therein. The

shaft 139 heretofore mentioned is slidably mounted in openings 140 in the members 105 of the swinging member 100 to the left in Fig. 4, and said shaft is provided with a head portion 141 between which and one of the side members of the swir igjng member, 1s interposed a spring 142. 1s spring serves to maintain the shaft 139 extended to a point where it will engage the head 137 of the shock-absorbing means 130. To release this shaft or remove the same out of en agement with the head 137 of the shoe absorbing means 130, a sliding bolt 1431s mounted in an opening 134 in the frame 103, and this sliding bolt is operated by means of a hand lever 145. This hand lever is pivotally. connected as at 146 to a link 147, which in turn is pivotally mounted as at 148 to the frame 103.

By this construction it will be apparent that as the member 143 is reciprocated in the opening 144, the shaft 139 will be reciprocated to a point where it will disenafter described. .The swingin gage the head 137 of theshock-absorbing means and will permit of rotation of the swinging means 1n a manner-to be hereinmember shown on the right-hand side 0 Fig. 4 is provided with a block 149, and said block 149 is adapted to engage a pin 150, slidably mounted 1n an opening 151 in the frame 103. This pill 150 is slidable in order that the swinging members may be released, and to operate the sliding member simultaneously with the bolt 143, the same are coupled to ether inthe following manner? Tivotally secured as at 152 to the bolt 150, is a bell crank lever 153, and one arm 154 of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected to a link 155 which in turn is pivotally connected as at 156 to the frame 103. Pivotally secured as at 157 to the other arm of said bell crank lever is a rod 158, which rod is pivotally'connected at its other end as at 159 to an arm 160 of the bell crank lever pivota'lly'mounted as at 161 in a bracket 162 carried by the foundation 104. The reference character 163 designates a rod pivotally connected at one end as at 164 to the other arm 165 of the bell crank lever, and the other end of said rod is pivotally connected as at 166, to the arm 167 of a bell crank lever pivoted as at 168 to a bracket 169 carried by the foundation at the opposite side of the machine to the one first mentioned. Pivotally connected as at 170 to the other arm 171 of the last mentioned bell crank lever is a rod 172, and said rod 172 is pivotally secured as at 173 to an arm 174 projecting from the o erating lever 145 heretofore mentioned. y this construction it will be apparent that as the hand lever 145 is rocked through the medium of the bell crank lever and rods 158, 163 and 172, the bolts 143 and 150 will be simultaneously operated to release the swinging members and permit of their movement about their pivotal points.

Mounted adjacent each of the swinging members-heretofore mentioned and in such relative position thereto as to receive the molds therefrom, is a curved track 180, one of which tracks leads to the core-placing mechanism, the other of said tracks leading to the mold-closin mechanism.

The operation of this portion of the foreto be hereinafter described. After the molds have been filled and struck off and the bottom plate 190 secured thereto, such as by latches 193, the hand lever 145 is grasped to operate the sliding bolts 143 and I 150 to release their respective locking mechanisms. After this has been accomplished, the valve 128 is operated and upon fluid entering the cylinder 123, the device is rocked off center through the medium of the pivoted lever 118 and the pawl 120 carried thereby, which latter engages the ratchet wheel 108 to rock the arms 100 and 101 with completed molds.

As the swinging members are rocked ofi center as above described and under the infiuence of the Weight of the molds, they swing by gravity and in so doing the rollers 191 of the mold engage their respective tracks 180. As the device swings downwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 6, the operating bars are reciprocated under the influence of their respective cams 117. The reciprocation of these The device is so constructed that when the'swinging members are provided with the molds, the weight of the molds will be sufiicient to overcome the weight of the counterbalance 106. When, however, the molds have been released as shown in Fig. 6, the counterbalance weight 106 will overcome the weight of the mold-carrying means and will cause the swinging members to assume the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which position they will be retained by engagement of the spring-pressed shaft 139 with the head 137 of the retarding means and the engagement of the sliding bolt 150 with the memher 149. Also serving to maintain the swinging members in this position is the pawl 120, which prevents a backward or anti-clockwise rotation of the swingin members after the% have once settled in th position shown in igs. 3 and 4.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides means whereby the molds in addition to being filled are moved from the filling position to a position where one of the filled molds will receive thecore and the other will be transferred to the mechanism which will subsequently position it on that half of the mold which carries the core to close the mold. It

is also apparent that the mechanism which supports the molds for filling and removing the atterns therefrom, forms the transfer or fee ing means of the core-placing and moldclosing means to be hereinafter described.

The track 180 at the left-hand side of Fig. 1 leads to the core-placing mechanism E, and said core-placing mechanism E is shown in detail in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. Short track sections 201 receive the molds from the lefthand track 180. These track sections 201 are carried by two parallel arms 202, and.

said parallel arms 202 are loosely mounted on a shaft 203 mounted in the standards 204 carried by a foundation 205. Carried by the parallel arms 202 between the tracks 201,

is-an electromagnetic device 208, and saidelectromagnetic device is supplied with current by means of a conductor 209.

In the present instance, the foundation 205 and standards 204 have been shown as mounted within a pit 210, and mounted in said pit 210 is a cylinder 211 to which the motive fluid of the entire device is supplied by means of a pipe 212. This pipe branches as at 213 for the supply, and as at 214 for the exhaust, to and from said cylinder 211, respectively, and said supply and exhaust are controlled by means of a valve 215 operated by a rod 216 pivotally connected as at 217 to a hand lever 218, which in turn is pivoted as at 219.

Carried by the shaft 203 and normally extending opposite to the arms 202, are two parallel arms 220. These arms 220'when at the left of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 13, are supported upon a tranfiwrsely extending bar 221. Secured to one ofthe parallel arms 202 is a gear .206, and secured The core 224 is carried by the plate 223 and supported within an opening therein which conforms generally to the shape of the core. In order to provide for the vertical movement of the core necessary in placing the core within the mold when the cores are of considerable thickness, a hydraulic cylinder 220 is emplo ed. The piston 221 of this cylinder is adapted to engage the core and force the same into the opening in the mold formed for the reception thereof. Pivotally secured to the parallel arms 220, as at 225, are arms 226 and these arms 226 are joined together and forked as indicated by the reference character 227'. The forked end of these arms surrounds the piston 221 of the hydraulic cylinder. 220, in such a manner that as the piston221 is reciprocated the levers 226 will be rocked about their pivotal point 225. The'opp osite end'of the levers 226' are notched as indicated 'by the reference character 229 and are adapted to enga e pins 230 upon the parallel arms 202. 15y this construction it will be seen that when the core is positioned in the mold the parallel arms 202 and 220 are locked together so that they move to the right in Fig. 9. To move the arms 220 again to the left in Fig. 9 it is only necessary to operate the cylinder 220 which will release the locking means 226 and permit the arms 220 to swing free of the arms 202.

Mounted upon the side of the base opposite to the cylinder 211 is a cylinder 230, and the operating fluid is supplied thereto by means of a pipe 231 controlled by a valve 232 which in turn is operated by a rod 233. This rod 233 is pivotally connected as at 235 to the hand lever 234 similar to the hand lever 218 heretofore mentioned.

Projecting from the cylinder 211 is a piston rod 237 and upon the upper end of said piston rod 237 is a rack member 238, which rack is adapted to mesh with the teeth of the gear 206. Pro'ecting from the cylinder 230 is a piston ro 239, and the upper end of said piston rod 239 is provided with a rack 240 adapted to'mesh with the teeth of the gear 207. This part of the mechanism operates as follows:

en a core has been received upon the shorttrack sections 201, the electromagnetic device-208 is energized and its influence acts upon the bottom plate 190 of the mold. to retain the mold against accidental displacement with respect to the short track sections 201. The lever 218 is now operated to permit of a flow of fluid to the upper end of the cylinder 211 and the piston in said cylinder will move to the opposite end drawing the rack 238 downward. As the rack descends, the parallel arms 202 will be swung from the right-hand side in Fig. 9 to the left -hand side in said figure, owing to the engagement of the rack 238 with the gear 206. In this position, the mold will be positioned upon the plate 223 with the depression in the end of the mold receivm the core 224: The lever 234 is now operate topermit a flow of fluid to the upper end of the cylinder 230, which causes the piston rod 239 thereof to move downward and pull the rack 240 with it in its downward movement. 'As the rack descends the parallel arms 202 and 220 will be rocked to the right in Fig. 9 (in which figure the parallel arms 220 are shown in dotted lines), to return the mold to its starting position.

W'ith the :parts in this position the fluid is admitted to the opposite end of the cylinder 230 and the parallel arms 220 are moved to the full-line position at the left shown in Fig. 9, the core 224 having been deosited within the mold.

eferring now to Fig. 1, the mold is moved from the core-placing mechanism to the mold-closing mechanism F, and in this position is adapted to receive the other half of the mold to close the same. The tracks 180 at the right of Fig. 1 lead to a short track section 250, and said short track section 250 is carried'by parallel arms 251.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 12, that the parallel arms 251 are carried by a shaft 252, which shaft is mounted in standards 253 carried by a base 254. Secured to the shaft 252 is an arcuate gear 255 and meshing with said arcuate gear 255 is a rack 256. This rack 256 is the extension of a iston rod 257 operating a cylinder 258. he power for the cylinder .258 is supplied by means of ipes 259 and 260, which pipes are branches rom the pipe 261, and mounted at the junction of the pipe 261 with the pipes 259 and 260, is avalve 262. This valve 262 is controlled by means of a rod 263, which in turn, is operated by a lever 264 pivoted as carried by the lower half. The arms 251 are moved from the position shown in dot ted lines in Fig. '1 to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 12, by admitting fluid to the upper end of the cylinder 258, to force the piston in said cylinder downwardly. This causes a downward movement of the rack 256 and operates the arcuate gear 255 to rotate the shaft 252 in its bearing, and. cause the arms 251 to describe the movement heretofore mentioned.

In order to maintain the lower half of the mold in position upon the 'shorttrack section 250, an electromagnetic device 2'70 is employed, and the same is energized, and its attraction for the bottom plate of the upper half of the mold causes the same to retain its position relative to the parallel arms 251.

After the parts are m the position shown in Fig. 12, the electroma etic device retains the bottom plate in p ace, and together with the arms 251 are moved to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 1, by admitting fluid to the lower end of the cylinder 258 and forcing the rack 256 upwardly to rock the shaft 252 in its hearings in the opposite direction to that aforementioned. When returned to this position the chuck is demagnetized and the bottom board removed to give place for the next mold.

Leading from the mold-closing mechanism is a track section 275 and this track section 275 extends to the pouring mechanism L. The pouring mechanism L comprises a suitable melting furnace 276, by means of which the metal from which the castings are made is maintained in a molten state.

A pot 277 is adapted to be positioned beneath the spout 2'7 8 of the furnace 276 and said pot 277 is adapted to receive the metal 279 in a molten state. Mounted above the pot 277 is a plunger 280 and said plunger 280 is operated by a piston rod 281 mountedin a cylinder 282. Power is supplied to the cylinder 282 by means of a pipe 283, which branches as at 284 and 285 to the upper and lower ends respectively, of said cyhnder 282. The flow of o crating fluid through these pipes 284 an 285 is controlled by means of a valve 286.

After the mold is closed by the mold-closing mechanism, the same is moved along the track 275 to a position beneath the pouring spout 287 of the pot 27 7 With the mold in this position, its filling opening will be directly under the fillin spout 287. The valve 286 is now operate to cause a descent of the plunger 280 and as the' lunger 280 descends into the pot 277, it will cause said pot to overflow and s'uf'ficient of the molten metal will be forced into the mold to fill the same.

After the above operation has been completed, the closed mold is transferred to the mechanism K, at which point it is broken up and the cast article removed therefrom.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the present invention provides new and novel means whereby the several operations attendant the manufacture of a cast article are automatically carried out in such a mannor as to greatly reduce the labor connected ing means, mechanical means for packing the mold in separate sections, means for transferring said sections to core-placing and mold-closing mechanisms, means for placing a core in one of said mold sections, means for positioning the pther of said mold sections on the first-mentioned mold section to close the mold, and means for filling the mold, substantially as described.

2. A metal casting mechanism comprising a sand-packing means, a mold-supporting means, a core-placin means, a mold-closing means, and a mold- Hing means.

3. A casting apparatus comprising a sandpacking means, a mold-supporting means ada ted to position the mold beneath the san packing means, a core-placing mechanism, and a mold-closing mechanism, said mold-supporting means adapted to transfer the molds to a conveyor leadin to the coreplacing means and the mold-closing means.

4. In a casting apparatus, a swinging mold support, means for packing sand in the mold carried by the support, a coreplacing means, a mold-closing means, said swinging mold-supporting means forming the means bywhich the molds are transferred to the core-placing means and the mold-closing means.

5. In a metal-casting apparatus, a reinforced mold-supporting means, means for packing sand in the'molds carried by said mold-supporting means, a core-placing means, and a mold-closing means, said reinforced mold-supporting means forming the means by which the molds are transferred from packing position to the core-placing and the mold-closing means.

6. In a metal-casting apparatus, means for supporting a plurality of mold sections in position to be packed, means for packing said mold sections, a core-placing means, and a mold-closing means, said mold-supporting means adapted to simultaneously deliver one of the mold sections to the coreplacing means and the other of said mold sections to the mold-closing means, substantially as described.

27. In a metal-casting apparatus, a swinging mold-supporting means, means for packing sand in the molds carried by said mold-supporting means, means, and a mold-closing means, sai swinging mold-supporting. means being gravity operated to transfer one of the mold sections to the core-placing means and the otherof the mold sections to the mold-closmg means.

8. In a metal-casting apparatus, a gravity operated swinging means for supporting the molds in sections, mechanically operated means for packing the molds with sand, a pattern carrying mechanism, a'core-placing mechanism, and a mold-closing mechanism, said gravity operated swinging means be ing adapted to transfer the mold sections to the core-placing means and the moldclosing means and simultaneously withdraw the pattern from the molds.

9. In combination with a swinging moldsupporting means, a pattern adapted to be carried by said mold-supporting means and positioned within the mold, means for packing the molds with sand, 9. core-placing means, and a mold-closing means, the said mold-supporting means being adapted to transfer the mold sections to the core-placing means and mold-closing means and simultaneously withdraw the pattern from the mold sections.

10. In a metal-casting apparatus, moldsupporting means, mold packing means, core-placing means, mold-closing means, and gravity operated means for transferring the molds from the filling position to the coreplacing and mold-closing means.

11. In a casting apparatus, a sectional mold, a swinging support adapted to carry the sectionsof the mold, means for packing sand in the mold sections, patterns carried by the swinging support and adapted to be positionedwithin the mold sections, a core placing means, mold closing means, and means for operating the swinging support to transfer one of the mold sections to the core placing means and the other of the mold sections to the mold closing means, said swinging support automatically withdrawing the patterns from the mold sections during the transfer of the mold sections from the sand packing means to the core placing and mold closing means.

12. In a casting apparatus, the combination with sand-packing means, core placing means, and mold closing means, of a gravity actuated swinging supportadapted to support mold sections in operative position relative to the sand packing means, a plurality of patterns carried by the gravity actuated swinging support and adapted to be positioned one within each of the mold sections, and means operated by the swinging movement of the swinging support for automatically withdrawing the patterns upon movement of said swinging support.

a core-placin 13. In a casting apparatus, a curved track,

a swinging mold support mounted adjacent said track and swinging in the same lane as the curvature thereof, a plurality o pat terns carried by said mold supporting means, and means actuated bythe swinging movement of said mold support for withdrawing the patterns from the mold sections upon swinging movement of said mold support. I v

14. A casting apparatus comprising a sand-packing means, a mold supporting means adapted to position the mold beneath the sand-packing means, a pattern carried by the mold supporting means, a core placing mechanism, a mold closing mechanism, said mold supporting means adapted to transfer the molds to the conveyer leading to the core placing means and the mold closing means, and means for automatically withdrawing the patterns from the molds during the transfer of the mold from the sand-packing means and to the core placing mechanism and the mold closing mechanism.

15. In a metal casting apparatus, a revolving mold-supporting means, patterns carried by the mold-supporting means an adapted to be positioned within the molds supported'thereby, means for packing sand in the molds about the patterns, a core place ing means, a mold closing means, said revolving mold supporting means being gravity actuated to transfer one of the mold sections to the core placing means and the other of the mold sections to the mold closing means, and means for withdrawing the patterns from the molds simultaneously with the transfer of the molds from the sand-packing means to the core placing means and mold closing means.

16. In a casting apparatus, a sand-packing means, a core-placing means, a moldclosing means, and means for transferring the molds from the sand-packing means to the core-placing means and the mold-closing means, said transferring means comprising a revoluble support adapted to position the molds relative to the sand-packing means at one stage in the revolution of the revoluble support and adapted to release the molds during the revolution of the revoluble support to permit of their passage to the core-placing means and the mold-closing means.

17. In a casting apparatus, the combination with a sand-packing means, a coreplacing means, a mold-closing means, and conveyers connecting the same, of a revoluble mold-supporting means adapted to support the molds in sand-packing position and deliver the molds to said conveyers in such a manner that the molds are transferred from the sand-packing position to the coreplacing position and mold-closing position.

18. In a castin apparatus,-the combination with a sari -packing means, a coreplacing means, a mold-closing means, and conveyers connecting the same, of revoluble supporting means adapted to position the molds in sand-packin position, patterns carried in said revolu le mold-supporting means an adapted to be positioned within the molds during the sand-packing operation, means for revolving the mold-su porting means to deliver the molds to said eonveyers, and means for automatically withdrawing the patterns from the molds during a ortion of a complete revolution of the re vo vin mold-supportingmeans.

19. n a casting apparatus, the combination with a sand-packing means, a coreplacing means, a mold-closing means, and conveyers connecting the same, a revoluble supporting means adapted to position the molds in sand-packing position, patterns carried by said revoluble mold-su porting.

means and adapted to be positione within themolds during the sand-packing operation, means for revolving the mold-supporting means to deliver the molds to said conveyers, means for automatically withdraw- 1 ing the patterns from the molds during a portion of a complete revolution of the revolving mold-supportin -means, and means for positioning the revo ving mold-supporting means relative to the sand-packing means after the molds have been discharged therefrom.

20; In a casting apparatus, the combination with sand packing means, core placing means, and mold closing means, of a gravity actuated movable support adapted to support the mold sections in operative position relative to the sand packing means, a plurality of patterns carried b the gravity actuat ed movable support an ada tedto positioned within each of the mo (1 sections, and means operated by the movement of the movable support for automatically withdrawing the patterns upon movement'of said support. 21. In a casting apparatus, a curved track, a revolving mold support mounted adjacent said track and adapted to deliver the molds to said track, a plurality of patterns carried by said, revolving mold support, and means for withdrawing said patterns during a portion of a revolution of said mold support.

22. In a'casting apparatus, a curved track, a revolving mold support mounted adjacent said track and adapted to deliver the molds to said track, a plurality of patterns carried by said revolving mold support, and means for withdrawing said patterns during the operation'of transfer of the molds from the mold support to the curved track.

supported thereby, means for packing sand in the molds about the patterns, a core placing .means, a mold-closing means, said movable mold supporting means being gravity actuated to transfer one of the mold sections to the core placing means and the other of the mold sections to the mold closing means, and means for withdrawing the patterns from the molds simultaneously with the transfer of the molds from the sand packing means to the core placing means and mold closing means. A

24. In a casting apparatus, a sand-packing means, a mold-closing means, and a coreplacing means, said core-placing means comprising a pair of swinging members, means for separately operating said swinging members, and means for locking said swinging members together to cause them to operate in unison.

25. In a casting apparatus, in combination, a sand-packing means, a mold-closing means, and a core-placing means, said core placing means comprisin a pair of swinging members, one of which 1s adapted to carry the mold and the other of which is adapted to carry the core, means for retaining the mold upon the carrying member, means for retaining the core upon its carrying member, and means for moving the mold in the pres ence of the core to deposit the core therein.

26; In a casting apparatus, means for placing a core in a mold, said means comprlsing a swinging arm, means carried by said swinging arm to support a core, a second swinging arm, means for securing the mold to the second mentioned swinging arm, and means for locking said swinging arms together, as and for the purpose set forth.

27. In a casting apparatus, a mold packing mechanism, means for supporting a plurality of mold sections adjacent said mold packing mechanism and in a position to receive sand therefrom, said mold supporting mechanism being movable in a vertical plane, a core placing mechanism to which one of the mold sections is transferred by movement of the mold section supporting means, and means for transferring the first mentioned mold section from the core placing mechanism to the mold closing means.

28. In combination with a sand packing means, acore lacin means and a mold closing means, a vertica ly swinging support for supporting a pair of mold sections in position to receive sand from the sand acking means, said vertically swinging mold section supporting means being adapted to transfer one of said mold sections to the core placing means and the other of said mold sections to the mold closing means, and patterns associated with each of said mold sections and adapted to be automatically withdrawn from the mold sections upon their transfer to the core placing and mold closin means.

WILLIAM SUTTON. 

